The Minister of Education and Science Krasimir Valchev today discussed the vision for a comprehensive change in the Bulgarian language, literature and history curricula with scientists from the Institute for Bulgarian Language, the Institute for Literature and the Institute for Historical Studies of BAS. The meetings were also attended by the President of BAS, Corr. Memb. Evelina Slavcheva, who offered the assistance of the National Academic Network to hold discussions on the vision for curriculum change across the country.
“The idea of the change we envisage is to provide children with a broader base of knowledge and skills in the humanities and sciences. In this way, we hope to compensate for the poor results that students show on the PISA functional literacy tests,” Minister Valchev said. He thanked the scientists from the Institute for Bulgarian Language for their assistance in training Bulgarian language teachers and for their work on the BERON digital dictionary. The scientists are currently upgrading and complementing its functions.
At the Institute for Literature, the scholars presented their activities under the Development and Promotion of Bulgarian Studies Abroad National Scientific Programme. “There is a huge interest in Bulgarian studies on the part of young graduate students from all over the world,” announced the director Assoc. Prof. Elka Dimitrova. According to the writer Corr. Memb. Georgi Gospodinov, “Bulgarian studies centres from Europe invite contemporary Bulgarian authors for meetings and discussions”. At the suggestion of Minister Valchev, the writer will take part in a campaign to promote reading among Bulgarian students.
“Many of the scholars at the Institute for Historical Studies are closely connected with the problems of education as they are also teachers. Serious changes are needed in the curricula and we will get involved with proposals,” the director Prof. Daniel Vatchkov said. He pointed out that there has been a decline in young people’s interest in pursuing careers in science.
